Valve for a pressurized receptacle

Abstract

Valves for use with a pressurized receptacle are disclosed comprising a housing including an orifice for dispensing a fluid, a shutter disposed in the housing and movable along the axis of the housing under the action of gravity between a closed position in which the shutter substantially closes the orifice when the valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which the shutter releases the orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of the shutter parallel to the axis of the housing over at least a portion of the patch between the closed position and the dispensing position.

1. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing having an axis, and including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable along said axis under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of said shutter member parallel to said axis over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position; wherein said housing is not defined by a dip tube. 
   
   
     2. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said at least one surface is adapted to impart a helical motion to said shutter member. 
   
   
     3. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes an inner wall, and said at least one surface comprises a threaded rod including at least one thread which cooperates with said inner wall of said housing to define a substantially helical passage constraining the movement of said shutter member between said closed position and said dispensing position. 
   
   
     4. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes an inner wall, and said at least one surface comprises a helical groove in said inner wall of said housing and a rod within said housing constraining the movement of said shutter member along said helical groove between said closed position and said dispensing position. 
   
   
     5. The valve of  claim 3  wherein said threaded rod includes an inner channel for the flow of said fluid towards said orifice. 
   
   
     6. The valve of  claim 3  wherein said threaded rod is free of an inner channel which would permit flow of said fluid towards said orifice therethrough. 
   
   
     7. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said at least one surface comprises at least one deflector within said housing, said at least one deflector providing an obstacle deflecting the movement of said shutter member between said closed position to said dispensing position. 
   
   
     8. The valve of  claim 7  wherein said at least one deflector comprises at least one separate element affixed to the wall of said housing. 
   
   
     9. The valve of  claim 7  wherein said at least one deflector comprises at least one integral element formed integrally with said wall of said housing. 
   
   
     10. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a valve body. 
   
   
     11. The valve of  claim 1  including a valve body, and wherein at least a portion of said housing comprises a separate element affixed to said valve body. 
   
   
     12. The valve of  claim 1  including an absorber disposed downstream of said shutter member in the direction of flow of said fluid, said absorber adapted to absorb at least one propellant gas contained within said receptacle, whereby said absorber can release at least a portion of said at least one propellant gas upon a decrease in pressure in the area adjacent to said absorber. 
   
   
     13. The valve of  claim 12  wherein said absorber comprises porous material. 
   
   
     14. The valve of  claim 12  wherein said absorber comprises a material capable of absorbing said at least one propellant gas. 
   
   
     15. The valve of  claim 14  wherein said at least one propellant gas is selected from the group consisting of an alkane, a fluorine-containing compound and dimethyl ether. 
   
   
     16. The valve of  claim 12  wherein said absorber comprises polyamide fibers. 
   
   
     17. The valve of  claim 12  wherein said absorber comprises a separate sintered member. 
   
   
     18. The valve of  claim 12  wherein said absorber comprises silicone. 
   
   
     19. The valve of  claim 12  wherein said housing comprises a valve body, and including a chamber in fluid communication with said valve body by means of said orifice, and wherein said absorber is disposed within said chamber. 
   
   
     20. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined orientation comprises a head-down position of said valve, and wherein the position for normal use of said valve comprises a head-up position of said valve. 
   
   
     21. The valve of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined orientation comprises a head-up position for said valve, and wherein the position of normal use of said valve comprises a head-down position for said valve. 
   
   
     22. The valve of  claim 1  including actuating means for actuating said valve, said actuating means being actuated by being depressed. 
   
   
     23. The value of  claim 1  including actuating means for actuating said valve, said actuating means being actuated by being rocked. 
   
   
     24. The valve of  claim 15  wherein said alkane is selected from the group consisting of butane, isopropane and isobutane. 
   
   
     25. The valve of  claim 15  wherein said fluorine-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of difluoroethane  152   a  and trifluoroethane  134   a.    
   
   
     26. The valve of  claim 16  wherein said polyamide fibers comprise nylon fibers. 
   
   
     27. The valve of  claim 17  wherein said separate sintered member comprises a high porosity sintered member. 
   
   
     28. A dispensing device comprising a pressurized receptacle and a valve as defined in  claim 1 . 
   
   
     29. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing having an axis, and including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable along said axis under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to inhibit the movement of said shutter member over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position; wherein said housing is not defined by a dip tube. 
   
   
     30. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be at least partially dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing and a dip tube said dip tube having a longitudinal axis, and said valve including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of said shutter member parallel to said axis of said dip tube over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position. 
   
   
     31. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing having an axis, and including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable along said axis under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of said shutter member parallel to said axis over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position, wherein said housing includes an inner wall, and said at least one surface comprises a threaded rod including at least one thread which cooperates with said inner wall of said housing to define a substantially helical passage constraining the movement of said shutter member between said closed position and said dispensing position. 
   
   
     32. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing having an axis, and including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable along said axis under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of said shutter member parallel to said axis over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position, wherein said housing includes an inner wall, and said at least one surface comprises a helical groove in said inner wall of said housing and a rod within said housing constraining the movement of said shutter member along said helical groove between said closed position and said dispensing position. 
   
   
     33. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing having an axis, and including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable along said axis under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of said shutter member parallel to said axis over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position, said valve including an absorber disposed downstream of said shutter member in the direction of flow of said fluid, said absorber adapted to absorb at least one propellant gas contained within said receptacle, whereby said absorber can release at least a portion of said at least one propellant gas upon a decrease in pressure in the area adjacent to said absorber. 
   
   
     34. A valve for use with a pressurized receptacle containing a fluid to be dispensed therefrom, said valve comprising a housing having an axis, and including an orifice for dispensing said fluid, a shutter member disposed in said housing, said shutter member movable along said axis under the action of gravity between a closed position in which said shutter member substantially closes said orifice when said valve is in a predetermined orientation and a dispensing position in which said shutter member releases said orifice, and at least one surface adapted to prevent movement of said shutter member parallel to said axis over at least a portion of the path between said closed position and said dispensing position, wherein said predetermined orientation comprises a head-up position for said valve, and wherein the position of normal use of said valve comprises a head-down position for said valve.